Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My husband's young mistress is pregnant with his child.

He brought her home on our wedding anniversary.

"Chloe is delicate, so you need to clean the house three times a day. There shouldn't be a single speck of dust," he commanded.

"She also loves peace and quiet. You'll move out to sleep at night and only come back during the day."

After a long silence, I handed him the divorce papers I had prepared.

The housekeeper urged me to just endure it, but my husband signed the documents right in front of everyone.

"Whatever. Once she runs out of money, she'll come crawling back to me like a dog," he sneered.

The room erupted in laughter.

His band of rich, spoiled friends started betting on how long I'd last before I begged for mercy.

They were even plotting how to humiliate me once I did.

But they had no idea that the car coming to pick me up was already waiting outside.

This time, it was a final goodbye.

……

As I was preparing to leave the villa, Frederick called out to me.

"Lydia, give your amulet to Chloe. She hasn't been sleeping well lately."

That was an heirloom left by my parents.

Suppressing the tremors in my body, I clutched the amulet my mother had prayed for me to have.

Chloe, standing beside him, tilted her head with a saccharine smile, looking down at me from her pedestal.

"Freddie, it's okay. How could my baby compare to Sister's things? Just forget it."

Hearing her voice, a flicker of irritation crossed Frederick's eyes.

Over the years, whenever Chloe wanted something, I had to give it up.

If I refused, I would be brutally beaten by Frederick's bodyguards.

The metal rod in my leg still ached dully, and I sighed.

Whatever. I couldn't win against them.

Just as I set the amulet down and prepared to leave, Frederick spoke coldly.

"Lydia, know when to stop your little temper tantrum. Come back soon to take care of Chloe and the baby, and your place as Mrs. Vance will still be waiting for you."

His words were both a threat and a supposed compromise. In the past, I might have understood his hidden meaning and begged at his feet.

But now, the chains that had bound me were gone.

I didn't want to be entangled with him anymore.

Before I could speak, Chloe stepped forward, trying to grab my hand.

Not wanting any contact with her, I dodged.

To my surprise, she lost her balance and fell to the ground, scraping her hand on the floor.

Frederick didn't hesitate; he lunged forward and shoved me aside.

He was incredibly strong, and I tumbled down, hitting my head hard against a cabinet.

The smell of blood and a wave of dizziness washed over me, but I struggled to stand up.

Only to be kicked squarely in the face by one of Frederick's bodyguards.

"Freddie, don't blame Sister. It was my fault for not standing steady. She's so kind-hearted, she would never intentionally hurt our baby."

Fueled by her words, Frederick's rage reached a new level.

He scooped her up, then stepped hard on my hand. The sound of bones crunching didn't seem to satisfy him, so he twisted his heel into me.

"Apologize."

I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper, refusing to let out a sound, maintaining the last shred of my dignity.

He looked at me with a strange sense of agitation.

"Your whole family is dead and buried, so who are you trying to impress with this act?"

I didn't answer, forcing myself back to my feet.

My phone buzzed in my pocket; it must be the person coming to pick me up.

But before I could move, Frederick's bodyguard slammed me back to the floor.

"Lock her in the basement. Since you hurt Chloe, don't think you're getting off easy."